EquusStorm

Soooo what are crowds like in say... early April, assuming it opens up that early? Realized I'm going to be half an hour away in Burlingame for an event and highly thinking about making a day trip. I can't find the 2020 hours; typically weekend only that time of year or open most of the week?

Had the GC really become that painful in the last few years? I last rode it in 2013 and it wasn't as bad as I had expected. It used to be one of my favorite coasters despite a light degree of hip bruising every time. I should've suspected that they meant another RMC conversion instead of complete removal when I heard the closing announcement, but it didn't cross my mind, heh. I like the old Georgia Cyclone but I'm eager to get to the park in the next couple years and ride its descendant. Then again, I also need to get to Dollywood to catch Lightning Rod now that it's actually open... so very close in my last visit, so very close. Always loved the white wall of wood appearance of the GC support structure at the park's entrance from the outside, so I can't wait to see the updated look once TC is complete!

A really good friend of mine from outside the enthusiast community worked at Knott's for several years, and if I'm recalling our conversations correctly was a ride op on Montezooma's Revenge for a good while. His stories of less-than-brilliant GP questions, amusing things the ops did to mess with particularly ornery GP, and entertaining observations during the park's Halloween festivities have the group in stitches when I happen to be in California or at an event he's also attending. I know people are at amusement parks to have a fun time and generally aren't super knowledgeable about every part of coaster operation or coaster statistics (nor should they be required to be!) but some questions are just... not that bright by any standards. There were frequent questions from those already seated in the train asking if the ride has any inversions, while sitting in plain sight of the track ahead with the famous loop. Similarly, questions asking if the loop ahead was part of the ride, in full view of the continuous track from station to loop (though, there are so many coasters so close together at Knott's, this isn't as dumb a question as at other parks; though one only needs to watch the launch one time to get an answer) And best of all, there were also complaints about why they were not running two trains to cut down on wait time... on a Schwarzkopf shuttle. Obviously pretty common comments as noted through the thread, but I'll listen carefully for more specifics next time.

I'll be sure to grab plenty of photos of everything, as we'll be there for two days and I'm quick with the 'ol camera

I sleep above the covers and sweat at night even during winter, yet find it hard to stay out when it's much below like 50 or 55. I've got like a ten degree comfortable temperature tolerance range. MISERY, I SAY!

Well, tomorrow's the day. Should get there at or before opening Saturday and Sunday, myself and the other four folks heading out on our little Opening Weekend adventure. Weather is supposed to be unseasonably warm and mostly sunny both days, so I imagine there will be hordes of people, but getting a season pass should offset this by being able to head back several times during quieter parts of the year, ahaha. Given that few trees have begun to leaf out yet, it'll probably be rather warm in the direct sun, though it's supposed to be pretty breezy... sweatiness ahoy!

Thank you very much! Will be there

Okay, I know this has probably been asked numerous times in this thread, and I hate to ask it again, but I figured I'd ask around to see what the current opinion is amongst those who frequent this glorious park more than I. Though, I shouldn't be so absent in the park considering its proximity - we Alabamians consider SFOG our home park since Alabama Adventures decided to shoot itself in the foot, but prior to my last visit last August, I hadn't been since 2004. Sad panda is sad. However, now that I'm 22 and employed and have money (well, a little) I can change that easily! Alas, I digress. A friend of mine from work has proposed (and already asked off work) that we go to the park on opening day, March 16th, maybe with my brother and a few friends. However, my search for information regarding the operating hours and days has proved futile thus far, so I'll ask here. 1: What kind of crowds can we expect on opening day? I've heard in this very thread that it's usually not that bad, but given SFOG's legendary status amongst Southerners down this way, I find that hard to fathom! I can take chilly weather (and of course, down South, it could be either 87* or 35* in mid-March) and slow operations, if crowds aren't bad. I'm a sucker for short lines. But who isn't? 2: Is the park going to be open the next day (Sunday March 17th) after opening day? We REALLY want to make it a 2-day trip, catching a night at a motel and returning the next day, but I have no idea if the park is open the day after opening Saturday. If it's open two days in a row I'll go ahead and buy a season pass when we get there, as we plan to go back in the fall again anyway. Also I was told that the 17th was St Patty's Day, so if that's the case, how will that affect crowds? Assuming, of course, it's open on the 17th. 3: What are the hours they usually offer for opening day? I assume the park opens at 10 and closes somewhere between 4, 6, and 8, but I honestly have no idea. 4: Are there rides that are usually still not operating until the season gets underway? Would hate to get there and find my favorite rides still being prepped for the 2013 season. Sorry for the incredibly noob-ish line of questions; as I've only recently been working enough to afford trips to amusement parks, I've got a lot of work to do when planning these things in advance, ahaha. FURTHERMORE. I note a lot of Georgia regulars here on TPR forums - assuming that this trip works out (my brother and I will still go even if the friend backs out, unless opening day is going to be a dreadful time to go) I expect I'll see a lot of jolly ole folks from this fine discussion place in the park that day?

I have been on exactly one wooden coaster under 75 feet tall, and it's not exactly the most well-known coaster on earth. Cannonball Run in Waterville USA, Gulf Shores, AL. It's a nice little 1995 CCI out-and-backer standing 65 feet high. It's less than 2,000' long and a ride generally consists of two circuits. While not a particularly intense coaster, it's pretty fun, and is extremely picturesque against the sand and palm trees. Haven't been on it since Hurricane Ivan did a serious number on the park in '04 but it has been lovingly restored and still operates, though the park itself isn't that large or well-off and despite having some nice slides I'm shocked it has stayed open as long as it has... nevertheless Cannonball Run is the last significant coaster in Alabama since Rampage went SBNO so I do hope the park keeps operating for years to come!

A few years ago, I'd have been talking about Alabama Adventures as my home park, but... now since it's a coasterless waterpark only (a water park I haven't been to in aeons) I do suppose SFOG takes this honour, despite being a state away. Ah well. Goliath's awesomeness cannot be overstated.

As I am limited by finances and not owning a car, I really only dream of visiting new parks, unless the family pulls together the cash on vacation. Our trips to SFOG and Dollywood this year mark the first time I've been to an amusement park since 2004! That said, a return trip to SFOG (pretty much our home park at this point haha) is almost guaranteed - I will hitchhike if necessary - and Dollywood is already planned for the fall. I also hope to visit Lake Winnie for the first time in aeons, and if we are very very lucky indeed, Carowinds is a possibility. Should the vacation - if we get one in 2013 - take us to the Gulf Coast, I'll be heading for Waterville USA (I might even walk there, short little jog from the condo) to re-ride Alabama's only operating wooden coaster... actually, the state's ONLY operating full-sized coaster. It really is a boring state for coaster fanatics, but good thing I also like hiking. If things work out properly, I'll be going with my grandparents to West Virginia for the third year straight (then to Washington D.C., and back to Tennessee for a couple days) so it's not totally out of the question to hit a couple of parks along the long route from 'Bama to WV... though such a deviation from plans would be difficult to persuade. We'll see; the future is open wide. Silver Dollar City is kind of a distant dream in '13, as is BGW, but as they're both within a day's drive, I'm not gonna totally discount miracles here.

If there was a "Free Million Dollars to All Patrons" attraction, yes. Otherwise, five hours is just not worth it. Unless I lived next door to the park and had a season pass, in which case it would still be ridiculous but slightly more doable.

The photo hardly even looks real. It's glorious! If Cedar Point were closer or I had money, you can bet I'd be storming the gates the second GateKeeper opens next year.

That's about as epic as posts are going to get. /thread

This looks very promising! If it's going to combine the limitless flexibility of realistic track layouts (and realistic physics) of NL with the park experience + ride variety of RCT2 and the camera angles of RCT3, I'll start salivating now.

Batman at SFOG, just a few months ago... however I hadn't been to any sort of amusement park since I was 13, so I'm not as pathetic as that sounds hah. Almost rode a coaster with inversions at SFOG when I was 12-13, but as that ride was Ninja, I'm perhaps better off with that NOT being my first experience.

Mystery Mine? I find that if one braces properly in that one neck-snapping (and OTSR-smashing) curve before the first lift, it isn't that bad. At least not for me. Though, I always came out with sore ribs thanks to the small cars + the elbows of the person next to me, heh. Georgia Cyclone, out of my very limited number of coasters ridden, has proven the roughest (ALWAYS leading to rather significant hip pain) but I still love it... and I assume it's gotten a little better since the re-tracking started.

I usually stare at the mechanical workings of the ride, watch other people in line, and inhale the sweet scent of the station - where the brakes and grease and whatnot all combine to form the intoxicating odor of amusement park nirvana. Given the time spend in line, one could also presumably plot the overthrow of small nations, but I can't exactly suggest doing so for legal reasons.

22, and unfortunately, I can't quite recall. I was ~8-10 when I first rode on the Dahlonega Mine Train and GASM at SFOG - which one came first, though, is a bit hazy. I would assume the former. I also went on Marvel Mania at then-Visionland not long after opening, which would have been about the same time.

Well let's see... my coaster count is somewhere around 15, and I have been on exactly one coaster that opened this year: Wild Eagle. I gotta say, Mystery Mine was my favorite ride of the day - Wild Eagle was AWESOME but after about 20 minutes I had pretty much forgotten its layout. Smooth and awesome, but without the character that many of the other rides have, thus I wasn't as impressed by it as I thought I would be. But it's still in my top 4 or so.

Pardon the slight deviation from topic (my oldest ridden coaster thus far has been Dahlonega Mine Train at SFOG, or possibly a kiddie coaster at a tiny little park in Gulf Shores that was said to be from the 60s according to RCDB) but I've taken a bit of an interest in very old coasters that survived into 'modern times' (post-1970 or so) past the general coaster decline of the 50s and 60s; examples including the Jack Rabbits at Idora Park (1914-2001) and Clementon Park (1919-2007) , Giant Coaster at Crystal Beach (1916-1989) , and, perhaps more so than the rest, the Scenic at Willow Grove Park (1896-1975). Have any of you fine folk been on any of these lost treasures before they were swept away by the sands of time (with a lot of help from bulldozers) ? Also, I know that little list is very incomplete, so what other would-have-been-in-the-top-ten-oldest coasters were also out there until recently that RCDB doesn't have conveniently listed for me? And finally, I am intrigued by the Scenic, which appears to be the last 19th century coaster to exist; does anyone have information about that ride, or any information on any other 19th century coaster that existed into recent decades? Am I correct in assuming that was the last coaster from the 1800s to survive? I for one am rather glad that Leap-The-Dips is still going strong, I wish I could ride it one day

As I likely won't be heading for any parks before next spring or summer, the answer to this shall until further notice be the following: "Thunderhead at Dollywood, three times straight in three straight ride cycles with no wait, twice having the front seat to myself and once having the back seat to myself, until the family dragged me out of the park before I was able to run for the line once more!" Thunderhead is such a great coaster, though, that I am proud to say it is my most recent coaster until the next park season!

Well wow! This is exciting news! I for one am so glad that Lake Winnie (you know you're from the south when you have been able to spell 'Winnepesaukah' correctly) is still going strong It's been so long since I've been there, although I've been there more than once. It's a family in-joke that the park is called "Lake Winnepe-soak-you" because every time we've went, it has started pouring rain while we were there, stranding us in the gift shop (or once, on the tracks, as it began to rain while we were on the miniature railroad, and the train BROKE DOWN halfway around its course, requiring us all to walk back to the main part of the park on the tracks! That experience has stuck with me for all my life!) . Loved the kiddie rides when I was of the appropriate age and size to ride such things; on one of the miniature-car type tracked rides I always liked stopping, which for some reason would always stall the car and require an op to come all the way over to where I was and get it started before I was bumped by the next person coming around the track. I didn't believe them when they said that stopping would break down the ride, so I HAD to try it, being the tricky little devil that I was... er, am. They were right on that one. I don't recall riding much else, and to be honest I didn't even know the Cannonball was even THERE until relatively recently! Or, if I did, I forgot. Given that it's a short day-trip from the house, I'll definitely try to check out the new expansion - and ride (and re-ride and re-ride until oblivion) the Cannonball - next summer! Now comes the hard part, waiting for the 2013 amusement park season!!

I DELIVER! With photos! Photos, I might add, that are from 1993 - when I was a wee young lad of but two! Also, just for reference, besides a couple of photos I was tagged in on Facebook, you fine fellows and fellow-ettes are the first Internets people to gaze upon my face when I was rather young - these photos are quite rare, I say! I was an adorable child, much as I am a suave debonair and exceptionally desirable young man to this day. Who says beauty fades? I don't know TOO much about these rides; I do recall riding them, though. This photo was labeled 'Opryland 1993.' Seems to be a carousel-type ride of some sort. I'm in the front seat here. I was such a vehicle nerd waaaay back in the day. One of my favorite photos. Here I am in the front seat of what I think was the Convoy ride. I could easily be mistaken, that was 19 years ago and I've done very little research into the park's rides since then. The same ride as above. This photo makes me really sad, because this particular ride was my favorite amusement park ride EVER until I started getting into coasters when I was 10 or 11 - and the ride is, of course, long gone. I wonder what happened to it... I need to spend 4 seconds looking it up on Wikipedia but lol effort. Oh I was so happy after waiting endlessly for the front seat in that ride, pretending I was driving a truck (or, as I was so big into trains that it was insanity, I probably pretended it was a locomotive) for a few short moments around that track! I would wait for years to go on it again in the next visit, up until the park closed. I would drive my mom, grandmother, and cousin crazy by wanting to get back in line over and over and over to get the front seat yet again. I still have vivid memories of this awesome little ride - though until I found the photos recently, I couldn't recall whether it was at SFOG or Opryland. It was indeed the latter. Good times!

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